The Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS) has funds available to support conferences on important social and public policy issues.
Our priority is to support multidisciplinary engagement with issues and themes that span disciplines or schools. ISPS focuses on domestic social issues and public policy and encourages proposals consistent with this focus. We also welcome proposals for conferences that include a substantial component on the United States but treat the United States in comparative perspective or cover themes with broader implications.
Examples of recent ISPS supported conferences include:
Designing Quality Care: Insights on Advancing Child Development and Women’s Empowerment (May 2025)
America’s Contested Democratic Creed (March 2026)
K-pop Musical Production and Consumption (November 2024)
Environmental Joy (October 2023)
Understanding White Christian Nationalism (September 2022)
Justice and Injustice (August 2022)
Eligibility
Applicants must be full-time Yale faculty. Postdoctoral fellows are also eligible to apply and must provide a statement of support for the proposal from a faculty member. Doctoral and graduate students enrolled in a graduate degree program in the Yale Graduate School or a Yale professional school are not eligible to apply but can be identified as organizers.
Please note: ISPS ordinarily provides funding support for conferences that are scheduled to take place at least four months after the RFP deadline date.
To apply
Fill out the ISPS Request for Conference Funding Form.
The application includes a description of the event and its goals, the Yale faculty leaders of the event, expected Yale participation, anticipated external participation, a target date for the event, the total budget for the conference and which departments or schools at Yale are contributing, and a funding request (ISPS will typically consider requests for funding up to $30,000).
Please inquire with Kira Wishart (kira.wishart(at)yale.edu) with any questions.
Deadline: March 30, 2026, 11:59PM.
Updated: January 26, 2026